Maruti Suzuki To Start Exporting Select Models CKD kits

India's leading carmaker Maruti Suzuki plans to start exporting select models as completely knocked down (CKD) kits, beginning with its new multi-passenger vehicle Ertiga, which it plans to launch at the Auto Expo in Delhi next month.

"There is a great potential to export vehicles as CKD in many markets in Asia," Maruti Suzuki India MD S Nakanish said. "Maruti will act as the biggest supplier of cars to the parent SMC and to start with we will dispatch Ertiga MPV and other new models from next year," he added.

Ertiga, a seven-seater MPV which will be available in 1.4 litre petrol and 1.3 litre multijet diesel engine options, will be initially shipped to Indonesia and later to Thailand. The CKD kits will include critical parts, such as engine and transmission, fuel tank, wheel rim, brakes, partsstrengthenof suspension and steering that will be sealed and dispatched from the company's Manesar plant.

The move is aimed at strengthen ing Suzuki Motor Corp in the highly competitive South East Asian markets. Maruti Suzuki, which is ramping up its production facilities in India to target annual production of 20 lakh units by 2015, will eventually export more cars under the Suzuki badge.

TopGear Awards Announced!! Audi RS5

Last night BBC TopGear India awarded some of the best cars and bikes of the year in a sizzling ceremony held in Mumbai. Maruti Suzuki's most sought after small car, Swift, won the Small car of the Year. "We are pleased to receive an award from TopGear which is not a magazine but an institution in itself and it endorses the iconic status of the Swift," said Mayank Pareek,managing executive officer, sales & marketing, Maruti Suzuki "Every award is a validation to the fact that the direction we are heading is right and the product innovation strategy that we have put in place is correct.

Whilst the all important award of Car of the Year 2011 was given to the fierce Audi RS5.  The Bike of the Year went to Honda CBR 250RR and the Superbike of the Year award went to BMW 1200 GS. Mahindra & Mahindra's hot selling SUV XUV 5OO received two awards for Best Value for Money Car of the year and Reader's Choice Car of the year. TopGear Man of the Year award went to Sameer Gaur, MD & CEO, Jaypee Sports International for successfully staging the first F1 race in India. 


"It's not a conventional choice, but Top-Gear is never about conventions," said Girish Karkera, editor, TopGear magazine India

Maruti Suzuki To Launch SUV & MUV's For The Indian Roads

 Maruti Suzuki India has announced the launch of new vehicles in the sports utility and multi utility segment in their bid to regain 50% market share by 2015 according to the company MD, Shinzo Nakanishi.

Maruti, which is a 54.2% owned subsidiary of Japanese carmaker Suzuki Motor Corp, would develop these vehicles with the parent company and target their launch in the upcoming Auto Expo 2012 and beyond.

"There is a vast chunk of market, almost 18% of the passenger vehicles sold in India where we don't have any presence. So, as we aim to regain our market share and take it to beyond 50%, we will introduce vehicles in the new segment that are not in our current portfolio," Maruti MD S Nakanishi said.

Maruti sells 15 models in the Indian market and almost a dozen of these are in the compact vehicle segment. It has lost almost 5

Top Picks For Under 5 Lakhs Cars!!

With a boom in the small car segment in the Indian automobile marker, for the first-time buyers are literally spoilt for choice.

Her's our pick of what's installed for you if your budget is just under 5 Lakhs:

The most affordable and most fuel efficient car in India, the Tata Nano currently runs a 624cc two-cylinder petrol motor. It is going to be available in an all-new diesel avatar.  In addition to that, Tata, in a tie up with Bosch Diesel Systems has developed a 800cc two-cylinder diesel engine. This diesel Nano, is to be launched early next year and is speculated to cost Rs 2 lakh ex-showroom.

Tata showed the world that it could build the cheapest car yet, but it was Maruti that put India on wheels with the 800 back in the day. And it is all set to revive the iconic car that is expected to be powered by a more refined 800cc engine. 

The new car will be based on the Alto platform and as a result will offer more room inside. The price is expected to be higher than the Tata Nano petrol at Rs 2.25 lakh ex-showroom.

Chevrolet is all set to get into the ultra compact segment as well with an all-new 800cc Spark. Expect stingy fuel consumption and very practical interior packaging as in the Daewoo Matiz. The 800cc Spark should come in the right price range as well.

The Mahindra Verito compact sedan will be a sub four-metre car with the same engines in its petrol and diesel avatars, and the same features as the Mahindra Verito sedan aka the Renault Logan. 

The price is expected to be lower. The Verito compact sedan is an effort to make a sub 4-metre car which would not have higher taxes or a higher price tag.

Tata pulled off a brilliant move with the launch of the Indigo CS. It plans to do something similar with the Manza and launch a compact sedan version below the four-metre mark for lower taxes. The Manza CS is expected to get the 1.2-litre petrol and 1.3-litre diesel mills as in the Tata Vista.

Skoda Announces The Price Of Rapid

A few days back we gave you a sneak peek into the Skoda Rapid's Worldwide First Drive. After luring you towards this 'Thoughtful Car' for the 'Thoughtful Person' it is only fare that the car is made available at a rather 'Thoughtful Price' for you.


Well take a look at this masterpiece's video and know it for yourself....

This all new Skoda is full of promises and is likely to give the Maruti Suzuki SX4 and Volkswagen Vento a run for it's money. We reckon it is going to be a huge success so why not book for your own sets of Rapid wheels now and flash your new ride!! 

Maruti Diesel Car Prices To Be Hiked By Rs 10,000

 It's trouble in the Maruti Suzuki, India land again as they have announced the increased the prices of its diesel cars by up to Rs 10,000. Which means that starting this week the Swift, Dzire and SX4 will cost you an extra Rs 10,000, the price of the Ritz hatchback has been raised by 2,000.

"There has been a critical upswing in the inputs cost and an adverse appreciation in the Japanese currency yen that had made imports costlier and forced this hike," a company spokesperson said. 

Following the persisting strike of 59 days since June at the Manesar plant the carmaker is in the process of revival by normalising production after it saw a 55% decline in October to a mere 50,487 units. Subsequently, the waiting time for some of Maruti's diesel model has gone up to nine months. 

According to some reliable industry sources other carmakers, including Hyundai Motor and Toyota, are also looking at price revisions. 

With the new diesel car prices hike we highly recommend opting for a preowned car which can often be made available from as good as new. 

Suzuki Motors Sales Figures See 5.3% Rise Despite Indian Strike!!

Japanese Suzuki Motor giant has reported a 5.26% hike in their net income for the six-month period ended September 30, despite the persisting operational strike in India during the same period. This makes it one of the other success story of the year.

During the period of April-September, the company's net income has reported an increase to 32.01 billion yen (about Rs 2,010 crore) from 30.41 billion yen (about Rs 1,910 crore) in the same period last year, Suzuki Motor said in a statement.

The net sales during the period, however, declined by 6.82% to 1.23 trillion yen (about Rs 76,907 crore) from 1.32 trillion yen (about Rs 82,715 crore), it added.

"The domestic economy is somewhat recovering from the stagnation following the Great East Japan Earthquake, but it is exposed to a downward pressure from various factors including the flood in Thailand and a further appreciation of the yen," the company said. It also said the decreased sales in India had an impact on its net sales. "...sales amount (in Asia) decreased by 36.1 billion yen to 427.6 billion yen year-on-year due to decreased sales of Maruti Suzuki India and the exchange rate factor following the Yen appreciation," it added.

Whilst it is interesting to note that the Maruti Suzuki India had posted 59.81% fall in its net profit at Rs 240.44 crore for the quarter ended September 30, in the global spectrum Suzuki still manages to be a leading brand.